A software developer's lament: the shift towards rental models is eroding control, flexibility, and innovation in proprietary software. As a paying customer, you're locked into a system where the vendor decides when and if you'll have access to their product, forcing you to adapt or abandon your investment entirely. With perpetual licenses becoming a rarity, the traditional path of buying a version with updates for a set period is giving way to unpredictable rental fees that can be more expensive than owning the software outright. With no clear reason to upgrade beyond minor UI tweaks, and features added without user input, it's increasingly difficult to see value in paying a subscription fee. The result? Developers are less inclined to innovate, and users are left to navigate the uncertainty of their software vendor's priorities. So, what can you do when faced with this situation? Take a stand, and let your voice be heard. Complain to the vendor, threaten to switch or abandon the product altogether. Or, take matters into your own hands by seeking alternative solutions through other vendors, open-source projects, or even supporting your preferred project directly through donations. The choice is yours – but one thing's certain: you won't have the luxury of just "taking the pill" and hoping for the best.